便饭

• Pinyin: biàn fàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 便 = 亻 (person) + 更 (change); 饭 = 饣 (food) + 反 (reverse)

Meaning

Simple meal; informal meal; home-cooked food.

Refers to an ordinary, unpretentious meal without elaborate dishes. Often used when inviting guests casually, to lower expectations and make them feel comfortable. The phrase 家常便饭 means something routine or commonplace.

Examples

1. 今晚就在我家吃便饭吧，咱们边吃边聊。 Just have a simple meal at my place tonight — we can eat and chat.
2. 别客气，都是家常便饭，没什么特别的。 Don't be polite, it's just home cooking, nothing special.
3. 出差的时候就随便吃点便饭，节省时间。 When traveling for work, I just grab something simple to save time.

Usage Guide

Context: hospitality, casual dining, everyday

Tone: humble

Do Say

• 来家里吃顿便饭吧。(Come over for a simple meal.)
• 对他来说加班是家常便饭。(For him, overtime is just routine.)

Don't Say

• 在正式宴请时说便饭 (Don't call a formal banquet 便饭 — that's contradictory and sounds sarcastic)

Origin & History

便 (convenient/simple) + 饭 (meal). A simple, convenient meal.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal